Modular conveyor support assembly

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a modular conveyor support assembly adapted for use with different types of conveyors, such as steel chains, plastic chains, cables, etc., which offers stiffness in bending and, due to a unique design and standardization of parts such as guides, locating pins, conveyor run supports, etc., a minimum of manual labor and the time incident thereto is necessary for assembly or disassembly. The open construction facilitates cleaning, which is vital in certain food processing installations.

United States Patent 1 Windstrup MODULAR CONVEYOR SUPPORT ASSEMBLY [75]Inventor: Robert F. Windstrup, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, N.Y.

22 Filed: Oct. 20, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 190,721

[52] US. Cl. 198/204 [51] Int. Cl. 865g 15/60 [58] Field of Search198/204 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,508,642 4/1970Standley 198/204 3,596,752 8/1971 Garvey 1981204 3,368,666 2/1968 Stone198/204 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 203,964 11/1956 Australia198/204 5'2 3'! 54 5 0 U l 48 U 1 43 g 44 June 19,1973

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Joseph E. ValenzaAttorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik -& Holt [57] ABSTRACT This disclosurerelates to a modular conveyor support assembly adapted for use withdifferent types of corn veyors, such as steel chains, plastic chains,cables, etc., which offers stiffness in bending and, due to a uniquedesign and standardization of parts such as guides, loeating pins,conveyor run supports, etc., a minimum of manual labor and the timeincident thereto is necessary for assembly or disassembly. The openconstruction facilitates cleaning, which is vital in certain foodprocessing installations.

27 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Pmmcnm 3739.904

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ATTQQNEYS Efforts have been made over the years to standardize conveyorsystems and particularly the frames or supporting structure for manyreasons among which are rapidity of assembly and disassembly, rigiditywith its attendant constant cross section for article passage, and easeof convertibility when initially used to convey one size or type ofarticle but is subsequently converted for conveying other articles ordifierent sizes of the original articles. Unfortunately, it is notuncommon for manufacturers to treat conveyor systems with disinterest orlittle interest since such hardware is thought commonplace: It istherefore not unusual to see highly sophisticated production machinesbeing fed and discharged by what can be best described as old andrickity conveyors resulting in continued jamming and thus expensivedown-time for subsequent necessary refurbishing or repairs. Just ascommon is the modernization of production machines in-line-productionlines with makeshift rearrangements of the old conveyor systems whichagain results in jamming and/or slower production speeds and/or articledamage.

In keeping with the foregoing, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a novel conveyor support assembly which is of arelatively universal modular construction affording rapid assembly ordisassembly and conveyor rigidity to assure maximum speed of articleconveyance with minimum article damage or jamming thus directlyincreasing productivity by decreasing machine down-time, the latterbeing achieved through the use of side rails as rigidifying supportstructure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel conveyorsupport assembly which includes a vertical pedestal, a pairof spacedguide pins secured at lower terminal end portions thereof to thepedestal, first spacer means telescopically receiving the guide pins,platform means for supporting a conveyor run telescopically receivingthe guide pins, second spacer means above the platform means and alsotelescopically receiving the guide pins, a guide rail telescopicallyreceiving each guide pin and resting upon the second spacer means andmeans maintaining these components in rigid assembly while permittingthe various components to be rapidly disassembled and replaced to varysuch things as guide rail to guide rail distance, guide rail to platformdistance, an article cross section contoured by the use of alternateguide rail configurations.

' A further object of this invention is to provide a novel conveyorsupport assembly of the type heretofore described wherein the firstspacer means are cast metal blocks having accurately drilled bores whichtelescopically receive the locating or guide pins.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel conveyor supportassembly in which the second spacer means are annular sleeves which canbe of varied heights to alter the platform to guide rail distance, asdesired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel conveyorsupport assembly in which open style construction makes wash-down orcleaning particularly effective.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel conveyorsupport assembly wherein at most four and as little as two bolts need beremoved at each pedestal to remove any particular size or shape firstand second spacer means, platform means, the spanning means and theguide rails, and substitute like though differently sized or contouredelements to rapidly convert the conveyor support assembly for adifferent use and/or article size.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claimed subjectmatter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a novel conveyor support assemblyof this invention, and illustrates two vertical pedestals, each of whichcarries four locating pins which in turn form the base for modularcomponents of the system such as, spacers, guide rails, spanningelements, conveyor run supporting platforms, etc.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the conveyor support assemblyof FIG. 1, and illustrates a plurality of top guide rails extendingbetween and connected to threaded upper terminal end portions of thelocating pms.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongline 3-3 of FIG. 1, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which thelocating pins are secured at threaded lower terminal end portionsto abase plate of the pedestal, two pair of spacer means telescopicallyreceiving the locating pins, conveyor run support platform means betweenthe spacer means and likewise telescopically receiving the locatingpins, and a spanning element threadably connected to upper terminal endportions of the locating pins for supporting a top rail to control cansat high speeds.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3, and illustrates further details of the lower spacer means crosssection, the guide rails, and the conveyor run support platforms.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, andillustrates the manner in which the assembly may be reinforced betweenany pair of vertical pedestals by one or more pairs locating pins andassociated modular components, i.e., first and second spacer means,guide rails, etc.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to the upperportion of FIG. 3 but taken through another modular conveyor supportassembly which differs from that of FIGS. 1-5 in that two pairs ofconveyor run supporting platforms are supported by the lower spacermeans with each conveyor supporting platform having a common centralsupporting plate underlingly supported by and secured to bosses of thespacer.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 7-.-7of FIG. 6, and illustrates the bosses of the lower spacer which serve tosupport the conveyor platforms.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another conveyorsupport assembly constructed in accordance with this invention, andillustrates a plurality of locating pins upon which are telescopicallyreceived guide rails, conveyor platforms, spacers, and other componentsof the assembly.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally alongthe line 9-9 of FIG. 8, and more clearly illustrates the manner in whichthe components of the assembly are constructed in a modular fashion.

FIG. is a sectional view taken generally along line 10-l0 of FIG. 9, andillustrates the manner in which a pair of vertical uprights serve as apedestal of the assembly and a central tubular reinforcing member.

A modular conveyor support assembly constructed in accordance with thisinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, and is generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10. The assembly 10 includes aplurality of identical vertical pedestals 11 (FIG. 1), each of whichincludes a generally H-shaped configuration defined by a pair ofmetallic tubes or pipes 12, 13 joined together by a pipe 14 medially ofthe tube ends (unnumbered). A flat plate 15 is welded to the upper end(unnumbered) of the pipes 12, 13. At the lower ends of the pipes 12, 13are welded internally threaded nuts 17, 18 respectively, in which arethreaded threaded portions 20, 21, respectively, of respective legs 22,23, having respective feet 24, 25. The threaded portions 20, 21 permitthe pedestals 11 to be adjusted, asnecessary.

A relatively long inverted shallow U-shaped base member 26 spans two ormore of the pedestals l1 and is secured thereto by bolts 32 and locatingpins 35 having lower end portions 34 which pass through openings 39 ofthe base member 26, as will be noted more fully hereinafter.

The base plate 15 and the base member 26 have four aligned or registeredopenings 31, 39, respectively, through which upwardly project the bolts32 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The bolts 32 are threaded into axial threaded bores33 formed in the lower terminal end portions 34 of the cylindricalupright supporting members or locating pins 35 having like upperterminal end portions 36 provided with threaded axial bores 37.

After the four locating pins 35 have been secured atop the plate 15 bythe bolts 32 first spacer or support means 38 which is a hollow memberpreferably formed from cast metallic material is telescoped upon theloeating pins 35 by means of cored or drilled openings 40 at upper endportions of the spacer 38 and aligned lower openings 41.

Thereafter platform means, generally designated by the reference numeral42, are telescoped upon the 10- cating pins 35 by means of openings 43.The platform means 42 are in the form of two relatively long plates 44,44 having depending flanges 45 which are in spaced relationship to eachother. The plates or platforms 44, 44 preferably span a distance betweenthe adjacent pedestals 11, 11.

A conveyor of any conventional type, which is generally designated bythe reference numeral 46 is suitably entrained about drive and/or idlerpulleys (not shown) and upper supports or links 48 are supported by theplatforms 44, 44, in a manner best illustrated in FIG. 3, while the basemember 26 functions as a support for the return or lower run of theconveyor 46.

Second spacer or support means 50, 50 in the form of annular sleeves aretelescoped upon the locating pins or rods 35 and function to supportgenerally U-shaped guide rails 51 a predetermined distance above theconveyor support platform 42. The guide rails 51, 51 have upper andlower openings 52, 53, respectively, for telescopically receiving thelocating pins 35 and additional reinforcing sleeves 54 are telescopedupon each of the locating pins 35 and each is thus sandwiched betweenarms 55, 56 of the guide rails 51.

The entire assembly is rigidified by a U-shaped spanning member 57 whichis secured by bolts 58 threaded within the threaded bores 37 in thelocating pins 35. Each spanning member 57 includes an aperture 60through which passes a bolt 61. The bolts secure upper guide rails 62 tothe underside of adjacent spanning members 57. The guide rails 62, asrails 51, 51, preferably span the distance between the adjacent locatingpins 35 of adjacent pedestals 11, as is readily apparent from FIG. 1 ofthe drawings.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings whichillustrate spacer means 65 similar to the spacer means 38 but beingconstructed to receive two rather than four locating pins 35. One ormore of such identical spacers 65 are positioned between adjacentpedestals 11, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, to additionally rigidify theassembly 10. Each spacer or support 65 is likewise telescoped upon twoof the locating pins 35 by means of upper cored or drilled openings 66and lower openings 67. As thus positioned the spacer 65 functions tosupport thereupon the remaining components of the assembly heretoforedescribed, namely, the platforms 44, the spacers 50, the guide rails 51and 62, and the spanning members 57 secured to the locating pins 35 bythe bolts 58. The platforms 44, the spacers 50, the reinforcing sleeves54 and the guide rails 51 are, of course, telescoped upon the locatingpins 35 of FIG. 5 just as described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Reference is now made to'FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings which illustrateanother conveyor assembly identified with primed reference characterswhich indicate structure equivalent to that of the conveyor assembly 10of FIGS. 1-5. However, the conveyor assembly 10' of FIGS. 6 and 7differs therefrom in that spacer or support means 38' include twocentrally located upstanding bosses 70- having bores 71 which receivebolts 72, in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 6. Each of the bolts 72passes through a central platform portion 73 of platform means 42'. Theplatform 73 has depending legs 74 which define spaces (unnumbered) withadjacent legs 45' of the plates or platforms 44. Thus, in thisembodiment of the invention the conveyor assembly 10' is essentiallyconstructed wider to accommodate two conveyors 46', 46 whereby two rowsof articles can be conveyed, as desired. Moreover, this is accomplishedby (l) a different size spacer 38 having bosses 70, (2) the bolts 72associated therewith, and (3) the central platform or plate 73. However,as compared to the conveyor support assembly 10, all remaining components are identical, thus indicating the manner in which changesand/or conversions can be made due to this modular and standardizedconstruction.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8-10 of the drawings which discloseanother conveyor support assembly which includes a plurality ofpedestals 81, only one of which is illustrated. However, the pedestals81 are spaced from each other just as in the case of the pedestals 11and each is defined by a pair of tubular legs 82 whose upper threadedend portions 83 are threaded into threaded bores 84 of a support orspacer member 85 which includes at each side thereof upper and loweraligned openings or bores 86, 87, respectively, and a central bore 89whose axis is normal thereto.

Lower end portions 88 of vertical supporting members or locating pins 90are received in the bores 86, 87, and also pass through openings 91 ofmeans 92 well as the guide I which perform a triple function to bedescribed hereinafter.

A split annular clip 93 is received in an outwardly openingcircumferential groove (not shown) of each locating pin 90 to maintainthe same in the position best illustrated in the right hand side of FIG.9. Each pin 90 is prevented from being withdrawn from the openings 86,87 by bolts 94 received in axial threaded bores (not shown) of the lowerend portions 88. The bolts 94 additionally function to suspend twogenerally L-shaped angle irons 95 having a lower conveyor run platform96 secured thereto. The platform 96 preferably extends the entiredistance between adjacent pedestals 81, as is best apparent from FIG. 8.

The means 92 is preferably though not necessarily constructed from asingle sheet of material which extends between each' two adjacentmostlocating pins 90 of adjacent pedestals 81. The means 92 includes a lowerhorizontal portion 100, a lower vertical portion 101, a medialhorizontal portion 102, another vertical portion 103, and an uppermosthorizontal portion 104. The opening 91 heretofore to is formed in thelowermost horizontal portion 100 while a similar opening 105 is formedin the upper horizontal portion 104. The means 92 are, of course, simplytelescoped upon the locating pins 90 or, in the alternative, thelocating pins 90 are simply inserted downwardly (or upwardly) throughthe openings 91, 105 after which the clip 93 and a similar clip 106 aresecured in the manner shown in FIG. 9 to maintain the components and aspacer member T07 carrying a guide bar 108 in assembled relationship.The triple functioning of the means 92 replaces three functionsperformed by the separate platforms 44, the separate spacers 50 and theseparate rails 51 since each single means 92 defines a rail portion 103,a platform supporting portion 102, and spacer means 1011. Thus, whetherformed from one or two plates, both of which are illustrated in FIG. 9,the means 92 provide an efficient structure which is highly adapted forquick assembly or disassembly.

in order to assure additional reinforcement a pipe 11% (FIGS. 9 and 10)is received in the bores 89 of the first spacer or support means 85 andare locked therein by suitable pins 1111 received in openings 112, 113of the spacer means 85 and the pipe 110, respectively. The pipe 110 notonly is of a length to extend between adjacent pedestals 81, but thesame also passes through and is secured by pins to intermediate supports115 (FIG. 8) which correspond in function to like intermediate supportsof the conveyor assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The intermediate supports 115 areidentical in construction of that portion of the assembly above the legs82 except being of a narrower, lighter and two locating pinconstruction.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown inillustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that variouschanges in detail and arrangement of parts may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

l. A modular support assembly comprising standard means for supportingin elevated position components of said assembly, said standard meanshaving an uppermost end portion, a pair of laterally spaced uprightelongated supporting members carried by said standard means uppermostend portion, first spacer means telescopically receiving said supportingmembers, said supporting members having upper terminal end portionsprojecting beyond said first spacer means, at least a pair of spacedguide rails each one of which telescopically receives one of said upperterminal end portions above said first spacer means, and said firstspacer means supports said guide rails above and in spaced relationshipto said uppermost end portion, and means for securing said guide railswith respect to each associated upper terminal end portion.

2. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including secondspacer means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions,and said second spacer means being disposed between and thus relativelyspacing said guide rails and said first spacer means.

3. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including secondspacer means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions,said second spacer means being disposed between and thus relativelyspacing said guide rails and said first spacer means, and each secondspacer means and its associated guide rail being formed from the samepiece of material.

4. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including platformmeans for supporting a conveyor run, and said platform meanstelescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions.

5. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including meansspanning and being connected to the upper terminal end portions of saidupright supporting members.

6. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including meansspanning and being connected to said upright supporting members at lowerterminal end portions thereof.

7. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including secondspacer means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions,platform means for supporting a conveyor run, said platform meanstelescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions, and saidsecond spacer means and said platform means being disposed between saidfirst spacer means and said guide rails.

8. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including upperand lower platform means for supporting a conveyor run, and said upperplatform means telescopically receiving said upper terminal endportions.

9. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsupporting members have lower terminal end portions, and said upper andlower terminal end portions include thread means with said upperterminal end portion thread means in part defining said securing means.

10. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 includingplatform means for supporting a conveyor run, and said platform meanstelescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions and beingdisposed between said first and second spacer means.

11. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 including lowerplatform means for supporting a conveyor run.

12. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 including meansspanning and being connected to the upper terminal end portions of saidupright supporting members.

13. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein saidstandard means is a vertical pedestal, a base plate secured atop saidpedestal, and means for securing said base plate to lower terminal endportions of said supporting members.

14. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein saidplatform means are defined by a pair of spaced plates with each platereceiving one of said pair of supporting members.

15. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein saidstandard means is a vertical pedestal, a base plate secured atop saidpedestal, other platform means for supporting a conveyor run positionedatop said base plate, and means for securing said base plate to lowerterminal end portions of said supporting members.

16. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 7 including otherplatform means below said first-mentioned platform means for supportinganother conveyor run, said standard means is a vertical pedestal, a baseplate secured atop said pedestal, and means for securing said base plateto lower terminal end portions of said supporting members.

17. A modular support assembly comprising a vertical pedestal, a pair ofspaced upright supporting members each having upper and lower terminalend portions, means coupling said lower terminal end portions to saidpedestal, first spacer means above said pedestal and telescopicallyreceiving said supporting members, platform means above said firstspacer means for supporting a conveyor run thereupon, said platformmeans telescopically receive said upper terminal end portion, at least apair of spaced guide rails each one of which telescopically receives oneof said upper terminal end portions, means spanning said upper terminalend portions, and means coupling said upper terminal end portions tosaid spanning means.

18. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein saidpedestal includes a base plate secured there atop, and saidfirst-mentioned coupling means secures said lower terminal end portionsto said base plate.

19. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein saidfirst-mentioned coupling means are portions of said first spacer means.

20. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 including secondspacer means between said first spacer means and said guide rails tospace said guide rails above said first spacer means.

21. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 includingplatform means above said first spacer means for supporting a conveyorrun thereupon, and second spacer means above said platform means andbelow said guide rails for relatively spacing said guide rails and saidplatform means with respect to each other.

22. A modular support assembly comprising a vertical pedestal, a pair ofspaced upright supporting members each having upper and lower terminalend portions, means coupling said lower terminal end portions to saidpedestal, first spacer means above said pedestal end telescopicallyreceiving said supporting members, platform means above said firstspacer means for supporting a conveyor run thereupon, said platformmeans telescopically receive said upper terminal end portion, at least apair of spaced guide rails each one of which telescopically receives oneof said upper terminal end portions, means spanning said upper terminalend portions, and means coupling said upper terminal end portions tosaid spanning means, first and second platform means above said firstspacer means, said first and second platform means having a commoncentral platform portion, and said first spacer means includes anupstanding boss underlyingly supporting said common central platformportion.

23. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein saidsecond spacer means are annular sleeves and said upright supportingmemeber are cylindrical rods.

24. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 20 includingplatform means for supporting a conveyor run telescopically receivingsaid supporting members and being sandwiched between said first andsecond spacer means.

25. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein saidsecond spacer means are annular sleeves and said supporting members arecylindrical rods.

26. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein saidsecond spacer means are annular sleeves and said supporting members arecylindrical rods.

27. A modular support assembly comprising a vertical pedestal, a pair ofspaced upright supporting members each having upper and lower terminalend portions; means coupling said lower terminal end portions to saidpedestal, a pair of platform means for supporting a conveyor run, a pairof spacer means spacing said platform means above said supporting memberlower terminal end portions, at least a pair of guide rails, meanscoupling one of said guide rails to one of said upright supportingmembers, and one each of said platform means, spacer means and guiderails being of a unitized one-piece of material construction.

1. A modular support assembly comprising standard means for supporting in elevated position components of said assembly, said standard means having an uppermost end portion, a pair of laterally spaced upright elongated supporting members carried by said standard means uppermost end portion, first spacer means telescopically receiving said supporting members, said supporting members having upper terminal end portions projecting beyond said first spacer means, at least a pair of spaced guide rails each one of which telescopically receives one of said upper terminal end portions above said first spacer means, and said first spacer means supports said guide rails above and in spaced relationship to said uppermost end portion, and means for securing said guide rails with respect to each associated upper terminal end portion.
 2. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including second spacer means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions, and said second spacer means being disposed between and thus relatively spacing said guide rails and said first spacer means.
 3. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including second spacer means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions, said second spacer means being disposed between and thus relatively spacing said guide rails and said first spacer means, and each second spacer means and its associated guide rail being formed from the same piece of material.
 4. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including platform means for supporting a conveyor run, and said platform means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions.
 5. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including means spanning and being connected to the upper terminal end portions of said upright supporting members.
 6. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including means spanning and being connected to said upright supporting members at lower terminal end portions thereof.
 7. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including second spacer means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions, plaTform means for supporting a conveyor run, said platform means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions, and said second spacer means and said platform means being disposed between said first spacer means and said guide rails.
 8. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 including upper and lower platform means for supporting a conveyor run, and said upper platform means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions.
 9. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting members have lower terminal end portions, and said upper and lower terminal end portions include thread means with said upper terminal end portion thread means in part defining said securing means.
 10. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 including platform means for supporting a conveyor run, and said platform means telescopically receiving said upper terminal end portions and being disposed between said first and second spacer means.
 11. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 including lower platform means for supporting a conveyor run.
 12. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 including means spanning and being connected to the upper terminal end portions of said upright supporting members.
 13. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said standard means is a vertical pedestal, a base plate secured atop said pedestal, and means for securing said base plate to lower terminal end portions of said supporting members.
 14. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said platform means are defined by a pair of spaced plates with each plate receiving one of said pair of supporting members.
 15. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said standard means is a vertical pedestal, a base plate secured atop said pedestal, other platform means for supporting a conveyor run positioned atop said base plate, and means for securing said base plate to lower terminal end portions of said supporting members.
 16. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 7 including other platform means below said first-mentioned platform means for supporting another conveyor run, said standard means is a vertical pedestal, a base plate secured atop said pedestal, and means for securing said base plate to lower terminal end portions of said supporting members.
 17. A modular support assembly comprising a vertical pedestal, a pair of spaced upright supporting members each having upper and lower terminal end portions, means coupling said lower terminal end portions to said pedestal, first spacer means above said pedestal and telescopically receiving said supporting members, platform means above said first spacer means for supporting a conveyor run thereupon, said platform means telescopically receive said upper terminal end portion, at least a pair of spaced guide rails each one of which telescopically receives one of said upper terminal end portions, means spanning said upper terminal end portions, and means coupling said upper terminal end portions to said spanning means.
 18. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said pedestal includes a base plate secured there atop, and said first-mentioned coupling means secures said lower terminal end portions to said base plate.
 19. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said first-mentioned coupling means are portions of said first spacer means.
 20. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 including second spacer means between said first spacer means and said guide rails to space said guide rails above said first spacer means.
 21. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 17 including platform means above said first spacer means for supporting a conveyor run thereupon, and second spacer means above said platform means and below said guide rails for relatively spacing said guide rails and said platform means with respect to each other.
 22. A modular suPport assembly comprising a vertical pedestal, a pair of spaced upright supporting members each having upper and lower terminal end portions, means coupling said lower terminal end portions to said pedestal, first spacer means above said pedestal end telescopically receiving said supporting members, platform means above said first spacer means for supporting a conveyor run thereupon, said platform means telescopically receive said upper terminal end portion, at least a pair of spaced guide rails each one of which telescopically receives one of said upper terminal end portions, means spanning said upper terminal end portions, and means coupling said upper terminal end portions to said spanning means, first and second platform means above said first spacer means, said first and second platform means having a common central platform portion, and said first spacer means includes an upstanding boss underlyingly supporting said common central platform portion.
 23. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 20 wherein said second spacer means are annular sleeves and said upright supporting memeber are cylindrical rods.
 24. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 20 including platform means for supporting a conveyor run telescopically receiving said supporting members and being sandwiched between said first and second spacer means.
 25. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 21 wherein said second spacer means are annular sleeves and said supporting members are cylindrical rods.
 26. The modular support assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said second spacer means are annular sleeves and said supporting members are cylindrical rods.
 27. A modular support assembly comprising a vertical pedestal, a pair of spaced upright supporting members each having upper and lower terminal end portions; means coupling said lower terminal end portions to said pedestal, a pair of platform means for supporting a conveyor run, a pair of spacer means spacing said platform means above said supporting member lower terminal end portions, at least a pair of guide rails, means coupling one of said guide rails to one of said upright supporting members, and one each of said platform means, spacer means and guide rails being of a unitized one-piece of material construction. 